Wolf Of The Past: Family Lost - A Werewolf Romance (Spirit Of The Wolf Book 1)

by A. D. McLain

  At first glance, there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary in the small apartment. Beside him was a large bookcase, full of books, and at the back of the apartment there were glass doors opening onto a balcony. To the right of the front door was a roomy kitchenette with a sizable counter. She even had a potted tree sitting in one corner. But what really caught his eye was the abundance of wolves. There were pictures, statues, a clock, and a calendar, all depicting a variety of wolves. A glance at her bookshelf revealed several books were about wolves. It was amazing. She couldn’t know, yet something in her must have some sort of inkling. Maybe it wasn’t that strange that she’d focused so heavily on wolves – maybe it was a natural part of her. “You have a nice place here. Tell me, what is it that you do?”

  She smiled at his obvious evasion and the way he turned the attention back to her but let it slide. After all, he had just saved her life. “Right now, I’m attending Smithsdale University.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “I’m hoping to have selected a major by senior year.” She winked and smiled.

  He smiled back, and Nicole’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly finished bandaging David’s arm and gently slapped his good arm when she stood up. She didn’t want to delve too deeply into what that smile was doing to her.

  A knock sounded at the door, and Nicole let the police officer in. He introduced himself as Officer Stevenson and questioned what had happened. Nicole did most of the talking, with David occasionally adding a small detail. The officer took down a note of their phone numbers, and promised to have a patrol car drive by a few times that night as a precaution. It might take some time to identify the men, since neither of them knew her attackers.

  Once the door closed, David turned to Nicole. “Will you be all right here tonight?” he asked.

  She smiled reassuringly. “Yeah. Thanks… for everything.”

  She helped him pull on his shirt and walked him to the door. Before he left, he gazed deeply into her eyes for a long moment. “If you need anything – anything at all – just call and I’ll come.” He turned and left before she could say other word. She looked at the end table and saw a simple black business card with his name and number. Putting the card on the counter by her phone, Nicole set about the task of cleaning up.

  David walked down the steps and turned into the alley. He could hardly remember a single word he’d spoken while he’d been inside Nicole’s apartment. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything but Nicole herself. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have noticed.

  He’d experienced an uncontrollable urge to watch Nicole constantly, and since she’d mostly been focused on cleaning and bandaging his arm, he’d had ample time to indulge the urge. And he’d studied every inch of her. Although her hair was pulled back in a braid, he could tell it was long and held a slight wave. It was a dark, deep brown, just like Caroline’s hair had been. And her eyes! Nicole had the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. Not even her glasses detracted from their beauty. He’d noticed a constant sparkle in them, but looking closely he’d seen a little sadness beneath the surface.

  He smiled when he thought about the one crooked tooth, which was only revealed when she smiled. Even her imperfections seemed to enchant him. She wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, but she was definitely intriguing, and there was no denying he was strongly attracted to her. He couldn’t remember ever being this attracted to anyone before. The question was, what was he going to do about it?

  “David… David.”

  The whisper came from out of the shadows, before Officer Stevenson stepped forward, the low rays of the mid-afternoon sun highlighting his dark hair and hazel eyes.

  “Mark,” David said. “It’s good to see you again.” He released the startled breath he’d been holding on hearing his name and offered Mark Stevenson a short smile In truth he was a little angry with himself for letting anyone sneak up on him. He was getting much too complacent.

  “It’s been a while,” Mark said. He still wasn’t quite over his surprise at seeing David in Nicole Cameron’s apartment. David wasn’t even supposed to be in town, hadn’t been back in years. He made it clear to everyone he wanted to be alone. Something pretty big must have happened to bring him back to the world of the living. Whatever caused him to come out of his long hiatus, Mark was glad to see him. “So, how bad is that cut, really?”

  David flexed his arm a little. There was hardly any pain in the wound. “It’s not too bad. It’s already started to heal, and Nicole did a good job of cleaning and bandaging it.”

  Mark nodded. “Speaking of Nicole, does she know anything?”

  “No.” David shifted his focus to the shadows and contemplated his next move. He hadn’t intended to have any contact with Nicole, but the situation had changed now. Things weren’t so clear anymore, especially after seeing the multitude of wolves decorating her apartment. Maybe she should know. “I suppose I should tell her, but she has a lot on her mind right now. I only found out recently that her adoptive parents had died.”

  “Yes, they did. David, you should know – there was some question about their deaths. They died in a car accident and to all intents and purposes, it did appear to be an accident. But when we investigated, there were a few things that didn’t add up. We could never prove anything, but considering what happened today, I think it’s fair to say Nicole might be in danger. Will you be keeping an eye on her?”

  David pushed down the pleasure which blossomed at the prospect of watching over Nicole and reminded himself of the gravity of the situation. He was here to make sure nothing happened to her – nothing more. He needed to get past this intense attraction; he didn’t need anything clouding his judgment. Besides, he was too old for her. “Yeah, I’ll be on the job. She needs someone to watch over her,” he told Mark. He didn’t intend to let her out of his sight.

  Mark narrowed his eyes, but kept his thoughts to himself. “I’ll ask some of the other guys who patrol this area to keep an eye out, too.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  “Hey, no problem.” Mark glanced at his watch. “I need to be getting back to the station. Call me if you need anything.”

  “I will.”

  The two men clasped arms and David experienced a moment of nostalgia. It had been a long time since Mark had first clasped his arm in that manner, forever changing the course of his life with a simple gesture of friendship.

  Casually tapping in to his train of thought, Mark said, “You were very young then.”

  “I don’t know what I would have done without you and Richard.”

  Mark grinned. “You know, it was his idea to take you in. I suggested we just scare the living daylights out of you.”

  “I’d say you did both.”

  Mark laughed lightly. “I need to go and file this report. You know where to reach me.”

  With that, he released David’s arm and strode away.

  5

  She couldn’t sleep and the nightmare was taunting her again. Giving up her vain attempt at rest, Nicole got up and went into the living room. Her eyes peered into the dark room, looking for something to do. They barely paused on the bookshelf, that idea disregarded almost immediately. She wasn’t really in the mood to read. She wouldn’t be able to concentrate on it enough. Her eyes moved on to the kitchen and the coffee that was just waiting to be brewed. The smell was almost real, as she imagined the warm liquid flowing down her throat, but that idea was also disregarded quickly. Sleep had not begun its pull on her yet. It was possible she could stay up for quite some time on her own. She should hold off on the coffee until she was really tired. Then it would be the most beneficial.

  Sure fingers reached for the light switch but withdrew before turning the light on. Let it be dark, it suited her mood better. Besides, it wasn’t as if she needed the light to get around, she knew the apartment like the back of her hand.

  Maybe some fresh air and watching the stars would make her feel better. She gripped the cold metal door handle and turned
, a gasp escaping her mouth. A black wolf stared up at her, a wolf with beautiful blue-green eyes. He appeared to be exactly like the one that saved her the night before. It had to be him. He’d led her home, and wolves didn’t just wander around Connecticut cities every day.

  Following instincts rather than reason, she knelt beside the wolf and laid a hand on its fur. “How did you get up here?” she questioned. She looked around, and her gaze fell on the fire escape stairs. “I guess you must have come up there.” The wolf leaned into her stroking touch. He emitted a low growl of contentment, sending warm breath across her skin.

  She wondered if Meg was right. He wasn’t acting like a wild animal. Wild wolves didn’t stand vigil on an exposed balcony when they could be safe in a den with their pack. Could he be a spirit animal or a protector? The wind blew through the rails, and she felt the goosebumps raise on his flesh. He was no spirit. He was out here in the cold for her, watching over her. Why?

  She felt a stab of guilt and wondered if she should invite him inside. He was still an animal, but for some crazy reason she couldn’t figure out, she trusted him. Maybe, it didn’t matter. What if he preferred to be outside? “Do you want to come inside?” she thought. The wolf was on his feet and inside without needing any further coaxing. “I guess that’s a yes.” Nicole stared in surprise. Maybe he was a spirit, after all. How else could he respond to her thoughts? Still confused, she got to her feet, following the wolf inside.

  She tried to stay awake, not wanting to revisit the nightmare, but even with drinking her habitual cup of coffee, sleep eventually reclaimed her.

  The sound of birdsong greeted Nicole when she awoke. It took a moment to figure out what she was doing on the couch, but when the wolf moved beside her, she quickly remembered everything. She sat up, aware of a crick in her neck and pain throughout her back, and stretched her arms above her head. “Str… e… ee… tch,” she groaned, ending with a yawn. The wolf bounded off the couch, much too energetic for her liking. How could anyone have so much energy this early in the morning? True, she had taken that long walk yesterday, but that was different. She hadn’t wanted to be awake and out and about. She’d just had too many things on her mind.

  She poured a bowl of water for the wolf and went to change her clothes, running on autopilot most of the way. When she came back, the wolf was curled up on the couch. She scratched affectionately behind his ear and sat down beside him. “Maybe you should come over more often. I actually got some sleep last night, albeit on the couch, but sleep is sleep, right?” Still running her hand across his fur, Nicole leaned back and stared off into space. “I just wish I could do something about these nightmares. I thought I was over them, but this makes two nights in the same week. Why now, after all these years?” She sighed, beginning to feel slightly trapped in the small apartment, as if the walls were closing in and she had no way to get out. It seemed she couldn’t escape the nightmare anywhere. “I need some fresh air,” she said to herself.

  Nicole stood up and walked swiftly to the balcony. The sharp cold air sent renewed energy coursing through her sluggish veins and with her eyes closed, she tilted her head back and took in a deep breath. The wind took control of her hair, blowing it in whatever direction it chose. Standing with her hands on the rail, she felt the wolf rub against her legs, and drew herself back to the present. Inhaling one more deep breath, Nicole opened her eyes and lowered herself onto her knees, beside the wolf. She rubbed her fingers across the back of his neck and his fur presses into her hand and arm. It was so comforting she was reluctant to let it end, but she had things to do.

  “I have to go to class now, but something tells me this isn’t the last time we’ll see each other,” she mused. Pushing off her legs with her hands, Nicole got to her feet and watched the wolf turn and leave down the fire escape. She remained on the balcony until she could no longer hear his paws on the metal, then reentered her apartment, closing the balcony doors behind her. Her life was getting interesting.

  “Why does every teacher assign papers and schedule tests at the same time?” Nicole muttered to herself. Between the SES and her growing mountain of homework, she’d never get the chance to read the book on Stonehenge she’d checked out, much less the one on psychics. She dropped her pencil and leaned back with a sigh. “Do they get together and plan it?”

  “Probably,” a voice announced behind her.

  Startled, Nicole turned around and saw John heading in her direction. She must be tired, she thought, if he could walk up without her hearing him. Hardly anyone could manage to catch her off guard normally. “Hey, John.”

  “Hey, what’s this I heard about you getting attacked last night?” John asked, avoiding pointless pleasantries and getting straight to the point.

  “Word travels fast.” Nicole closed her book and put the discarded pencil away. She wouldn’t be getting any more work done for now. “Look, it was nothing. A couple of thugs tried to rough me up a bit, but I’m fine.”

  John shook his head in exasperation. “Yeah, only because some stranger happened upon you. Who was he, anyway?” he asked, settling onto the chair by her side.

  The campus gossips must be working overtime. How could he have heard all of that, especially so soon? It had to be his friend, that attorney, Anderson. “His name’s David Coverton.”

  “Coverton? Never heard of him. Anyway,” he said, frowning, “you’ve got to be more careful. You’re not exactly on everyone’s ‘A’ list right now. You—”

  “Hey guys. What’s going on?” Meg asked with her typical cheerfulness as she approached the table.

  “Nicole almost got herself killed again is what,” John announced.

  Nicole groaned.

  Meg sat down across from Nicole, glancing back and forth between the two. “What happened this time?” she asked.

  “She was attacked right outside her apartment building.”

  “Are you okay?” she asked Nicole, her voice filled with concern.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” Nicole rolled her eyes. “A guy named David Coverton showed up and helped me.”

  “Did I hear my name?”

  Nicole turned in her chair to see David standing behind her. Just seeing him was enough to take her breath away. A shiver ran up her spine being near him again. Nicole looked up into his blue-green eyes, noticing the green was more prevalent today. Such a deep, beautiful green, full and pure with small specks of blue mixed through for effect, creating the most amazing eyes she’d ever had the pleasure of gazing into. It took a few seconds before she regained her presence of mind.

  She surveyed her now-crowded study area and decided humor was the best defense against well-meaning friends. “What is this, Grand Central Station?” She tried to keep her voice steady but failed, wavering when she glanced back at David. “What are you doing here?”

  David looked at Nicole, wondering again what had made him enter the library. He certainly hadn’t planned on doing it. He’d only planned to keep an eye on her, make sure no one else tried anything. But then he’d found himself walking through the library doors and heading straight towards her. It seemed where she was concerned, his mind just didn’t get a vote. Now he had no idea what to say or do next. Through much self-control he managed not to fidget. “I was driving by and saw you come in here. Thought I’d check if you were still okay?”

  Nicole rolled her eyes again. “Why does everyone keep asking me that? I’m fine.”

  David took a breath and glanced back at the library door. This had been a mistake. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

  A twinge of guilt knotted in Nicole’s chest when he turned to leave. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me, especially considering what you did yesterday.” She waited for David to turn back and meet her gaze. “Thank you.”

  She was rewarded by a soft smile when David turned back to the group.

  After glancing around the table at the other two people sitting there, his entire focus was fixed on Nicole. He heard the other you
ng girl speaking and managed, with a good deal of difficulty, to shift his attention away from Nicole long enough to catch her say, “So, you’re the one who saved Nicole.” She stood up and offered him her hand. “My name’s Meghan Freeman. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  David took the proffered hand and brushed a light kiss across the back of it. “The pleasure is mine.”

  Meg was momentarily at a loss, a rarity for her. “You’re very chivalrous.” She finally managed.

  “I try,” he said, smiling. Who would ever have thought, during his misspent youth, that he would ever have been described as chivalrous? His father would have never believed he was the same person who left all those years ago. Then again, maybe he wasn’t. David quickly pushed back an unexpected pang of sadness. This was neither the time nor the place to delve into those feelings.

  “My name is John Markham.” For a reason John couldn’t explain, he knew immediately that he liked this guy. Regardless of what he’d done to help Nicole, David Coverton, seemed to exude an aura of trust. Being one to follow his instincts, John stood and shook David’s hand firmly. “I want to thank you for what you did for Nicole.”

  David grinned. “I’m sure she could have taken care of herself. She seems very resourceful.” The way she’d handled herself with those attackers had been impressive. Few people would have been able to adapt to a dangerous situation so well, but she had. Her parents would have been proud of her.

  David stared deep into Nicole’s eyes as he talked, and a shiver ran through her limbs. She needed to get out of here, it was too much to handle right now. “Okay, if everyone is through talking about me in the third person, I should be getting home.”

  “You shouldn’t be walking home by yourself.” Meg frowned. “It isn’t safe.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Nicole tapped her foot absentmindedly. Once she was alone, she imagined that she could figure out what was going on with her, but right now, she needed to get away.